She’s in the running to be on cereal boxes The tough lessons of life that Malie Matsumoto, 19, of Kalaheo learned from her physically impaired brother could make her a Wheaties cover girl. If Matsumoto wins in General Mills’ latest
She’s in the running to be on cereal boxes
The tough lessons of life that Malie Matsumoto, 19, of Kalaheo learned from her physically impaired brother could make her a Wheaties cover girl.
If Matsumoto wins in General Mills’ latest promotional project, her likeness may adorn boxes of the Breakfast of Champions in the future.
Matsumoto’s brother, born with congenital brain damage, was scorned and beaten throughout his life. Yet he told her he was “who he was” and wouldn’t change himself for anyone if he could, she said.
Her brother’s fight to live life on his terms taught her that “it didn’t matter what hand you were dealt, but what you did with that hand that counted,” Matsumoto said.
Competing against nearly 400 Hawai’i residents, Matsumoto was recently named the Everyday Champion for Hawai’i by Wheaties Energy Crunch. As a result, her name will now appear on the Wheaties Energy Crunch box in 2002.
Matsumoto may be selected as one of five Everyday Champions nationwide whose picture will appear on the back of the box, according to Bryan Kirsch of Alan Taylor Communications, a New York City-based company handling the promotion.
And if Matsumoto wins the grand prize, her likeness would be put on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes, a space traditionally reserved for America’s most famous professional athletes and Olympic gold medalists.
The new promotion is a way to honor men and women across American who have distinguished themselves as great athletes and improved lives in their communities, Kirsch said.
Matsumoto said the recognition caught her by surprise because “there were so many other deserving people from Hawai’i. I think it is real honor.”
“Considering what is happening in America (since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack), it is really important to focus on the good things we have in our society,” she said.
Matsumoto’s selection was based on her athletic accomplishments. The daughter of Suzanne Kashiwaeda of Kalaheo graduated last year from Kaua’i High School graduate, where she was an all-state swimmer, broke five district swimming records, qualified for four state events and was the most valuable player in her junior and senior year.
Now a sophomore at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., Matsumoto is studying speech pathology through a national student exchange program.
Because of minor injuries and because the college doesn’t have a swim team, Matsumoto isn’t swimming competitively there. But to keep in shape, she joined a swim club. She plans to transfer to the University of Hawai’i and swim competitively again.
Matsumoto also was selected by Wheaties because of her service to the community. She volunteered with Easter Seals, the Special Olympics and other charities.
In addition, Matsumoto was involved in school and community activities, visited long-term care patients at hospitals and participated in reading programs with the public library system.
Matsumoto also was a respite provider for underprivileged children, worked at a video store and sang at Kaua’i High and with the 2000 Hawai’i All-State Honor Choir.
Matsumoto said she always encouraged the people she worked with “to love themselves.”
In sports and community projects, “I gave my all and never quit, especially when the going got tough,” Matsumoto said.
Through her recognition by General Mills, Matsumoto said she hopes to “help other people recognize the champion in themselves.”
Of the nearly 400 Hawai’i residents who competed in the contest, the minimum age for eligibility was 17. The oldest contestant was 70, Kirsch said.
Winners in the competition were chosen in every state. The oldest winner was an 88-year-old in Maryland.
The five national winners will be announced Dec. 11. The winner of the grand prize, besides appearing on the front panel of Wheaties boxes, will receive $5,000. Wheaties Energy Crunch will donate $25,000 to the winner’s charity of choice.
The four runnersup, whose images will appear on the back side of the cereal box, will each receive a check for $2,500 and a $2,500 donation from General Mills to their favorite charity.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
